Next of Kin (and relationship):.............Patrick Michael Lalor (father)
Date of enlistment:................................21-11-41
City and province of enlistment:...........Winnipeg Manitoba
Essay
FINTAN HOWARD LALOR
Fintan Howard Lalor Was a St. Paul’s boy. He got good grades and participated in a few extra curricular activities such as rugby and drama. He lived in Pine falls Manitoba with his mother and father Patrick Michael Lalor. Like many young men from that day, something persuaded him to join the military, whether to serve his country, or for a more personal reason. In any event he was assigned to the Royal Canadian air force where he would begin his days as a man of the military, and die as one.
Fintan was not the largest guy ever, standing at a height of 5’11’’ and a smaller build, one would not look at him as a military man. In his day-to-day life he was an A+ student, making him a very good choice for a pilot or pilot officer in the air force, and outside of school he was involved in Rugby, with and outside the school In a club. But one of the more interesting things is that he participated in Drama, and even played a girl in the play! With a bright future ahead of him, he chose to join a battle like many men at that time, to have their own little taste of the “glory of war” without out fully understanding the consequences of his decisions. Something very interesting and inspiring about Fintan, was that just before he left for his training, he converted to a Roman Catholic faith, Perhaps because he believes in his own mortality. Whatever the case he was off to do training all across Canada. In the interview for the air airforce, the interviewer commented on how "well put together, and how eager" Fintan was to begin his military career.
St.Pauls Archives, Fintan Lalor in school play.
On March 13th 1943, Fintan Lalor was acting as the navigator during an exercise with 3 other men in a Ventura aircraft, a pupil pilot, T.A. Corr, a wireless Operator air gunner, D.A. Cannon, and a passenger, R.H. Faulkner. The weather report for the day was Overcast above four thousand feet with Visibility from four to six miles and Surface winds blowing at about eight to twelve miles per hour throughout the period veering from West Northwest to North West. The mission was a 500 foot bombing followed by front, turret and under gun firing training exercise over the coast of Port Maitland. However, The plane never returned. all that was found of the plane during the initial search was a set of landing gear and a punctured dingy that positivaly identified as the missing aircrafts.
Ventura AJ173-landing gear set <http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b3Accident_VenturaAJ173.htm>
Fintan Howard Lalor was presumed dead along with the others on the aircraft with him for the date of March 13th 1943. He received 2 awards, including the general service medal the war medal and the C.V.S.P clasp, all Without ever seeing a battle, Fintan gave his life for his country, and even though he didn’t go over seas to fight an enemy. His death is still considered a honorable one.
Military Service Record
Age (at death):..................................21 years of age
Force:..............................................Royal Canadian Air force
“ On the afternoon of Saturday, Mar. 13/43, F/L D.G. Lacey, Flight Commander Armament Flight, authorized P/O Corr as pilot, P/O Lalor observer and Sgt. Cannon W.O.A.G. to take off at 1645 hours in Ventura AJ173 for the purpose of carrying out bombing and gunnery exercises. The bombing was to be undertaken at the Pubnico Range and the gunnery at Port Maitland and the crew were given strict instructions to land at 1800 hours.
As this was the first exercise of this type to be carried out by this particular crew at this Unit they were briefed before take off by the Gunnery Officer. They also signed the Air Firing Range Orders as having read and understood. The last signal received from the aircraft informed the base that bombing had been completed and that it was proceeding to the gunnery range.
At 1845 hours, when the aircraft had not returned the Flight Commander Armament Flight requested that overdue action be taken, and on the following morning an intensive search by air and sea was organized without result.
On Mar. 15th some lobster boats found near Port Maitland an oleo leg, glee wheel and tyre and aircraft type dinghy which were positively identified as belonging to this particular aircraft. The R.C.A.F. crash boat cruised in the area for three hours after the discovery without finding any further evidence.
On Mar. 16th several other pieces were picked up on a beach south of Port Maitland Harbour, these included a sleeping bag and box marked "Tail Drift Sight". From these parts it was evident that the aircraft had broken up with great violence.
On the day of the accident the aircraft had been flown by another pilot for 1 hr. 30 min. during this flight it behaved in a normal manner; there is also evidence to prove that it had been refueled prior to taking off on the fatal trip.
The presence of Ordinary Seaman Faulkner, R.H., as passenger in this aircraft is not explained, a naval rating was seen by the Leading Aircraftman J.R. Atkinson, who assisted the pilot in starting the engines to be on board the aircraft when it taxied out for take off. It is further certified by F/L D.G. Lacey that the four men were members of the crew and that nobody was seen to leave the aircraft prior to take off.”
Findings of investagation
Circumstances:
Aircraft engaged on a Low Level Bombing and Air Firing Exercise: completed its bombing and became missing after proceeding towards the Air Firing Range at Port Maitland to carry out the Air Firing Exercise. From the wreckage found, Aircraft & Crew may be presumed lost at Sea. Cause: No evidence to show how the accident occurred.
Recommendations: Nil.
Remarks of O.C.:
The cause of this accident must remain obscure. An explosion appears to have occurred, but whether in the air or on impact is difficult to decide. The finding of more wreckage later may bring something more to light.
Observations of A.O.C.:
The Air Officer Commanding No.12 Operational (T) Group concurred in the report.
Conclusions of Accident Investigation Branch:
Agree with the Findings. From the evidence available the accident was probably due to the pilot allowing the aircraft to dive into the water through an error of judgment. (G/C F.S Wilkins, C.I. of A.)
On the morning of the 14th, March 1943, the area was searched by three (3) Venturas, two (2) Lysanders, four (4) Ansons and one (1) Hudson.
In the afternoon the search was continued by nine (9) Ansons, one (1) Lysander, one (1) Ventura and one (1) Canso.
None of these aircraft reported having seen anything.
A Lobster Boat also searched for seven (7) hours, on the 14th.
March 1943. After wreckage had been found off Port Maitland, the RCAF Crash Boat searched the vicinity and was at sea for three hours on the 15th,
March 1943 commencing at 1900 hours A.D.T.
Military service files of piolet officer Fintan Howard Lalor(J/22224) obtained from Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
Pilot Officer/Navigator J/22229 Royal Canadian Air force (RCAF) #5
Service Personnel Information | Essay | Military Service Record | Grave Reference | The official report of the missing aircraft | Findings of investagation | Search details | Additional information/links | Works Cited | Archival Reference | Internet Sites | | | |
Service Personnel Information
Essay
FINTAN HOWARD LALORFintan Howard Lalor Was a St. Paul’s boy. He got good grades and participated in a few extra curricular activities such as rugby and drama. He lived in Pine falls Manitoba with his mother and father Patrick Michael Lalor. Like many young men from that day, something persuaded him to join the military, whether to serve his country, or for a more personal reason. In any event he was assigned to the Royal Canadian air force where he would begin his days as a man of the military, and die as one.
Fintan was not the largest guy ever, standing at a height of 5’11’’ and a smaller build, one would not look at him as a military man. In his day-to-day life he was an A+ student, making him a very good choice for a pilot or pilot officer in the air force, and outside of school he was involved in Rugby, with and outside the school In a club. But one of the more interesting things is that he participated in Drama, and even played a girl in the play! With a bright future ahead of him, he chose to join a battle like many men at that time, to have their own little taste of the “glory of war” without out fully understanding the consequences of his decisions. Something very interesting and inspiring about Fintan, was that just before he left for his training, he converted to a Roman Catholic faith, Perhaps because he believes in his own mortality. Whatever the case he was off to do training all across Canada. In the interview for the air airforce, the interviewer commented on how "well put together, and how eager" Fintan was to begin his military career.
On March 13th 1943, Fintan Lalor was acting as the navigator during an exercise with 3 other men in a Ventura aircraft, a pupil pilot, T.A. Corr, a wireless Operator air gunner, D.A. Cannon, and a passenger, R.H. Faulkner. The weather report for the day was Overcast above four thousand feet with Visibility from four to six miles and Surface winds blowing at about eight to twelve miles per hour throughout the period veering from West Northwest to North West. The mission was a 500 foot bombing followed by front, turret and under gun firing training exercise over the coast of Port Maitland. However, The plane never returned. all that was found of the plane during the initial search was a set of landing gear and a punctured dingy that positivaly identified as the missing aircrafts.
Fintan Howard Lalor was presumed dead along with the others on the aircraft with him for the date of March 13th 1943. He received 2 awards, including the general service medal the war medal and the C.V.S.P clasp, all Without ever seeing a battle, Fintan gave his life for his country, and even though he didn’t go over seas to fight an enemy. His death is still considered a honorable one.
Military Service Record
Grave Reference
The official report of the missing aircraft
“ On the afternoon of Saturday, Mar. 13/43, F/L D.G. Lacey, Flight Commander Armament Flight, authorized P/O Corr as pilot, P/O Lalor observer and Sgt. Cannon W.O.A.G. to take off at 1645 hours in Ventura AJ173 for the purpose of carrying out bombing and gunnery exercises. The bombing was to be undertaken at the Pubnico Range and the gunnery at Port Maitland and the crew were given strict instructions to land at 1800 hours.
As this was the first exercise of this type to be carried out by this particular crew at this Unit they were briefed before take off by the Gunnery Officer. They also signed the Air Firing Range Orders as having read and understood. The last signal received from the aircraft informed the base that bombing had been completed and that it was proceeding to the gunnery range.
At 1845 hours, when the aircraft had not returned the Flight Commander Armament Flight requested that overdue action be taken, and on the following morning an intensive search by air and sea was organized without result.
On Mar. 15th some lobster boats found near Port Maitland an oleo leg, glee wheel and tyre and aircraft type dinghy which were positively identified as belonging to this particular aircraft. The R.C.A.F. crash boat cruised in the area for three hours after the discovery without finding any further evidence.
On Mar. 16th several other pieces were picked up on a beach south of Port Maitland Harbour, these included a sleeping bag and box marked "Tail Drift Sight". From these parts it was evident that the aircraft had broken up with great violence.
On the day of the accident the aircraft had been flown by another pilot for 1 hr. 30 min. during this flight it behaved in a normal manner; there is also evidence to prove that it had been refueled prior to taking off on the fatal trip.
The presence of Ordinary Seaman Faulkner, R.H., as passenger in this aircraft is not explained, a naval rating was seen by the Leading Aircraftman J.R. Atkinson, who assisted the pilot in starting the engines to be on board the aircraft when it taxied out for take off. It is further certified by F/L D.G. Lacey that the four men were members of the crew and that nobody was seen to leave the aircraft prior to take off.”
Findings of investagation
Circumstances:Aircraft engaged on a Low Level Bombing and Air Firing Exercise: completed its bombing and became missing after proceeding towards the Air Firing Range at Port Maitland to carry out the Air Firing Exercise. From the wreckage found, Aircraft & Crew may be presumed lost at Sea. Cause: No evidence to show how the accident occurred.
Recommendations: Nil.
Remarks of O.C.:
The cause of this accident must remain obscure. An explosion appears to have occurred, but whether in the air or on impact is difficult to decide. The finding of more wreckage later may bring something more to light.
Observations of A.O.C.:
The Air Officer Commanding No.12 Operational (T) Group concurred in the report.
Conclusions of Accident Investigation Branch:
Agree with the Findings. From the evidence available the accident was probably due to the pilot allowing the aircraft to dive into the water through an error of judgment. (G/C F.S Wilkins, C.I. of A.)
Search details
The area searched was enclosed by the points:43°53'N. 66°22'W. 44°07'N. 66°02W.
43°37'N. 65°30'W. 43°22'N. 65°50'W
On the morning of the 14th, March 1943, the area was searched by three (3) Venturas, two (2) Lysanders, four (4) Ansons and one (1) Hudson.
In the afternoon the search was continued by nine (9) Ansons, one (1) Lysander, one (1) Ventura and one (1) Canso.
None of these aircraft reported having seen anything.
A Lobster Boat also searched for seven (7) hours, on the 14th.
March 1943. After wreckage had been found off Port Maitland, the RCAF Crash Boat searched the vicinity and was at sea for three hours on the 15th,
March 1943 commencing at 1900 hours A.D.T.
Additional information/links
http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2622787/LALOR,%20FINTAN%20HOWARD
http://manitobia.ca/content/en/search_result.xml?tempquery=Lalor+Fintan&searchNewsPapers=Search&pos=0&query=Lalor+Fintan+AND+doctype%3Anewspapers
http://collections.civilisations.ca/warclip/pages/warclip/ResultsList.php
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/british-commonwealth-air-training-plan
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/bcatp.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Volunteer_Service_Medal
Works Cited
Book of rememberance. "179." vetarians affair canada . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/images/collections/books/bww2/
ww2179.jpg>. Page of the book of rememberance with Lalors name on it.
Book of rememberance. "179." vetarians affair canada . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May
2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/images/collections/books/bww2/
ww2179.jpg>. Page of the book of rememberance with Lalors name on it.
Archival Reference
Military service files of piolet officer Fintan Howard Lalor(J/22224) obtained from Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
Internet Sites
http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2622787/LALOR,%20FINTAN%20HOWARDhttp://manitobia.ca/content/en/search_result.xml?tempquery=Lalor+Fintan&searchNewsPapers=Search&pos=0&query=Lalor+Fintan+AND+doctype%3Anewspapers
http://collections.civilisations.ca/warclip/pages/warclip/ResultsList.php
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/british-commonwealth-air-training-plan
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/bcatp.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Volunteer_Service_Medal